Food slicing machine



June 18, 1946. R. w oD 2,402,519.

FOOD SLIGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 GEORGE R. WOOD INVENTOR A TORNEY June 18, 1946. ca. R. WOOD FOOD SLICING MACHINE '6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1942 GEORGE R. WOOD INVENTQR ATTO NEY June 18, 1946.

G. R. WOOD FOOD SLICING MACHINE Filed .Qug. 1a, 1942 e Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR A TORNEiY GEORGE R. WOOD June 18, 1946. G. R. WOOD 2,f102,519

FOOD SLICING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1942 e Sheets-Sheet 4 GEORGE R. WOOD l0 INVENTOR FIG. .XI

June as, 1946 G. R. WOOD 2,402,519

7 FOOD SLIC ING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1942 e Sheets-Sheet 5 'vaz cEoRc 1R. WOOD z/o INVENTOR AT RNEY Y June 18, 1946; G. R. WOOD 2,402,519

, FOOD SLICING MACHINE Fil'ed Aug. 18, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. XII .SZ 7 4 5 42 /s .as 754 w 50 k! H553 I57) I I I L 25 XIII mags F 46. El]:

GEORGE R. wooo INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 18, 1946 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOD SLIDING George R. Wood, Montreal, -Qubcc, Canada, as-

slgnor to Toledo Scale Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 18, 1942, Serial No. "455.232

. This invention relates to food handling apparatus for the slicing of commodities into slices of various thicknesses.

It is an object of this invention to provide a slicing machine in which the various parts are designed to provide a compact, easily operable and easily cleaned machine. I

It is another object of this invention to provide a slicing machinewith a positive spring feed and a commodity-carrying tray which is easy to operate and clean.

Another object of this invention is to provide a slicing machine in which the commodity tray is mounted to facilitate its operation and to support centrally the weight of the commodity being sliced.

; It is a still further object of this invention to provide, in a unitary base for a slicing machine, mounting means for the movable parts of the machine arranged so as to prevent the entry into the base of any scrap material falling from the commodity being sliced.

MOre specific objects and advantages are apparent from the description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of machine embodying the invention.

In the drawings:

, Fig. I is a view in perspective showing the rear right corner of a slicing machine embodying the invention.

Fig. II is a view in perspective showing the left front corner of the slicing machine illustrated in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the slicing machine shown in Figs. I and 11, certain parts being broken away and certain parts being shown in section.

Fig. IV is a side elevational view, taken from they opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. III and with the commodity tray removed.

Fig. V is a fragmentary view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of gauge plate controlling mechanism incorporated in a slicing machine embodying the invention.

Fig. V1 is a detailed vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line VIVI of Fig. V.

Fig. VII is a detailed vertical section-a1 view, taken substantially on the line VII-VII of Fig. V.

Fig; VIII is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line VIII--VIII of Fig. IV.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary detailed view, taken substantially on the line IXIX of Fig. VIII.

Fig. X is a detailed plan view of portions of the mechanism shown in Fig. V but on a reduced scale. I

Fig, XIis a fragmentary plan view of a slice- 3 Claims. (01. 146-102) 2 receivingplatter and the means for mounting the platter on 'the ba'se.

Fig. XII is a vertical sectional view, taken substar'itially on the line XIIXII of Fig. IV.

Fig. XIII'isa detailed view, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line XIII- XIII of Fig. XII.

FigXIV is a fragmentary view in elevation of knife driving mechanism incorporated in a sliclng machine embodying the invention.

Fig. XV is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of commodity tray supporting means.

Fig. is a fragmentary detailed view, taken substantially on the line XVL-XVI cf Fig. XV.

Fig. XVII is a verticaljsectional 'view,"taken substantially on the line XVIIXVII of Fig. XV.

7 These specific drawings and the specific description' that follows merely disclose and illustrate the inventiona-nd are not intended to impose limitations upon the claims.

A slicing machine embodying the invention comprises a base '10 (Fig. I) atop -the rea-r'le'ft portion of which there is mounted a motor and drive housing H. A unitary knife uard l2 encloses a circular knife l3 with the exception of a portion of the edge of the'knife [3 which is exposed forslicin g commodities. A gauge plate I l is mounted with its face in a plane parallel to theiplane of the edge of the knife l3, and it is movable horizontally at right angles to the plane of its face. The forward edge of the gauge plate I4 is curved with substantially the same radius as the cutting edge of the knife 13 and fits closely adjacent thereto. The gauge plate I4 is laterally adjustable by means of a rotatable adjusting knob 15 which is mounted outside the front edge of the base it]. A commodity tray 16, which has a handle fl, is mounted to reciprocate fore and 'aft along one side of the base Ill and to carry a commodity sliding'ly along the face of the gauge plate i4 and past the exposed portion of the knife blade l3. A deflector plate [8 is mounted on the forward side of the motor and drive housing I I, and is behind the exposed edge of the knife I3, serving to deflect slices of commodity cut on by the knife I 3 onto a slice-receiving platter l9 which is located at the left of the gauge plate 14" and in front of the deflector plate 18."

The base ID rests on three rubber feet 20, one

of which is located at the front right corner and v at the right end of the motor 23. A drive pulley 25 (see also Figs. III and XIV) is keyed on the end of the shaft of the motor 23 and drives a V belt 26 which is also engaged in the larger sheave of a dual sheave pulley 21. The pulley 21 is journaled on a shaft 28 which is bolted to a link 29. The link 29 is, in turn, adiustably secured to two ears 30 and 3| of the frame 24 by means of bolts 32 which extend through elongated holes 33 in the ears 30 and 3 I The smaller sheave of the dual pulley 2'! drives a V belt 34 which also is engaged in a V groove in a knife hub 35. The knife hub 35 is press-fitted on the end of a stub shaft 36 which is journaled by needle hearings in a horizontally bored boss 38 near the upper end of the drive mounting frame 24.

The circular knife I3 is secured to the knife hub 35 by means of five angularly-spaced screws 39 which are threaded into five angularly-spaced holes 40 drilled in the knife hub 35 (Fig. XIV). The knife I3 has a dish-like depression 4| (Fig. XII) in its outermost face and a hole at its center which fits over a stud-like pointed projection 42 forming the center of the knife hub 35.

The housing II in its upper portion is arcuate and substantially coaxial with the circular knife I3. The knife I 3 is guarded by means of the unitary knife guard I2 which conforms in shape with, and blends into, the housing II, being held in position thereon by means of two clips 43 (Fig. IV) which are attached by means of screws near the upper edge of the housing II and extend upwardly into two vertical slots out in the turnedover lip of the knife guard I2. The central portion of the knife guard I2 is dished and conforms substantially to the shape of the circular knife IS. The center portion of the knife guard is supand the screws 44 holding the clips 43. This partition prevents any grease or dirt, or particles of commodity from entering the motor and drive housing I I. The trough 46 gives clearance around the lower edge of the circular knife I3 so that it can be effectively cleanedwithout being removed from the knife hub 35.

Sufiicient space is left within the upper part of the housing II so that a sharpening device consisting of a pair of circular stone may be mounted therein. A stand 52 extending up into this space supports the lower end 54 of the sharpening device. The sharpening device normally lies retracted in the space immediately above the stand 52. When it is desired to use the device a trap door 94 closing the top of the housing II may be opened to expose the sharpening device and allow it to be moved into operative position over the edge of the circular knife l3.

The trap door 94 is designed to blend smoothly into the contour of the housing II and such smoothness precludes using any knob or external catch for opening it. It is, therefore, provided with a spring tending to open it and a catch located within the housing and actuated by a button 99 (Fig. I) which when pressed releases the catch and allows the spring to open the trap door 94.

Gauge plate mechanism The gauge plate I4 is mounted with its face in a plane parallel to the cutting plane of the circular knife I3 on two rods H0 and III (Figs. II. III, IV, V, VIII and X). The two rods H0 and III are force-fitted into two bosses II2 (Fig. X)

ported away from the knife by the pointed proa crumb-trough 46 into which the lower edge of the circular knife I3 extends. The trough 46 is formed in the upper surface of the right rear portion of the base I0. The shelf 45 covers the trough 46 and is curved over, blending into and conforming with the shape of the top surface of the base Ill. The knife guard is held in position with the shelf 45 over the trough 46 by a pair of vertical pins 41 (Figs. IV and XII) which are riveted to the shelf and extend downwardly into holes bored in the upper surface of the base I0. I V i The trough 46 extends fore and aft beneath the circular knife I3 and has an open end 48 (Figs. I and II) above the innermost corner of the slicereceiving platter I9. That portion of the edge of the circular knife I3 which projects over the opening 48 of the trough 46 is guarded by means of a foot guard 49 (Figs. I and IV) which is formed on the lower portion of the gauge plate I4. The two rods H0 and III extend horizontally through two elongated holes II3 (Figs. III and X) cut through the vertical right side wall of the slice-receiving platter I9 and through two similar holes II4 cut in the left wall of the base I0. The edge of the gauge plate adjacent the edge of the circular knife I3, is cut witha complementary radius so that the gauge plate fits closely adjacent to the edge of the knife. The

I rods H0 and III are horizontally slidable in a gauge plate frame I I5 (Figs. IV, V and X) which is adjustably bolted to the base I0 and can be moved toward the circular knife I3 to move the gauge plate toward the circular knife as the diameter of the knife becomes smaller due to sharpening and grinding. The rod H0 is horizontally slidable in a bored boss H6, and the rod. I:I is horizontally slidable in a pair of bosses I 1.

Rack teeth IIB (Fig. VIII) are cut in the undersurface of the rod III and are engageable by a pinion II9 (see also Fig. V) fixed in the end of an indicator shaft I20 which is rotatably mounted transversely to the rods III) and III in the gauge plate frame H5. The indicator shaft I20 is both rotatable and longitudinally movable with respect to the cross members of the gauge plate frame I I 5 in which it is journaled. A coiled spring I2l surrounds the shaft I20 and is located formed integrally with the unitary knife guard between the two cross members of the frame I I5, one end of the spring being pressed against one of the cross members and the other end of the spring being pressed against a split clamping member I22 (Figs. V, VII and X). The clampingmember I22 comprises a flat top plate I23 which passes over the top of the shaft I20 and extends across beneath the two side members of the gauge plate frame II 5, and a bottom plate I24 which is hooked through a T slot in the top plate I23 on one side of the shaft I20 and passes in the rod III.

beneath the shaft, being secured on the other side by means of a screw I25 which passes freely through a hole in'the bottom plate I24 and is threadedinto the top plate I23; A small coil spring I26 is located between the head of the screw I25 and the bottom surface of the bottom plate I24. The clamping member I22 is not clamped tightly enough around the shaft I20 to bind it, but only tight enough to'maintain an upturned finger 121 on the bottom plate I24 in an annular slot I28 turned in the shaft I20. The edge of the upper plate I23 abuts against the inner edge of the cross member of-the frame H5. v a Aliorizontal adjustable stop screw I29 is threaded'into the gauge plate frame H5 in line with'the inner end'of the rod I I0, and serves to limit the movement'of the rod III) into the frame III and thus the adjustment of the gauge plate I4 to the right in Figs. VIII and X. The stop screw I29 is normally adjusted so that when the end of the rod I I is against it the face of the gauge plate I4 is directly in the plane of the cutting edge of the knife I 3.

The indicator knob I is mounted in the outermost end of the shaft I20, which projects through a hole I30 in the forward end'of the base It, by

means of a collar I3I (Fig. V) which is secured in the hollow interior of the knob. I5 by means shaft I20 and thus the travel of the gauge plate 7 I4 which is moved by the pinion IIS and rack teeth H8. An indicator I3! is secured on the outer wall of the base I0 and projects above the periphery of the knob I5 for cooperation with a series of slice thicknessindicia I38 (Fig. IV) inscribed on the periphery of the knob I 5. A small lamp I39 is mounted in a socket I40 attached to the gauge plate frame H5 and projects through a hole MI in the end of the base III into the interior of the knob I5 (which is preferably made of translucent material) to illuminate the indication.

Rotation of the knob I5 thus translates the gauge plate in a direction at right angles to the plane of its face. The distance through which the gauge plate has been moved determines the thickness of the slice of commodity that is severed when the main portion of the commodity is moved along the face of the gauge plate and against the edge of the circular knife I 3. Because of the location of the gauge plate to the left of the upwardly turned portion of the slice-receiving platter I9, any crumbs or pieces that may be rubbed or broken off the commodity as it is moved across the gauge plate fall downwardly upon the slice-receiving platter whence they easily can be removed. To facilitate cleaning of the upwardly turned portion of the slice-receiving platter and the face of the gauge plate, the gauge plate is removable. This is accomplished by pulling on the knob I 5, which moves the shaft I20 longitudinally, sliding the clamping member I22 along on the underside of the gauge plate frame [I5 and disengaging the pinion II9 from the rack teeth H8 The gauge plat may then be removed by sliding the two rods I10 and III outiof the bosses H6 and Illxandout of the two sets of holes II'4'and :I I3. To replace the gauge plate,

t-hezrods I10 and Ii-I are inserted through the holes H3 and I I4 and'into their respective bosses,

the knob I5 released and the expansion of the spring I21 slides the shaft I211 back into position with the pinion I1 9 engaged in the rack H8.

slice rec'eiving platter fIhe slice-receiving platter I9, which, in the'embodiment of'th'e invention disclosed, is a single unitary. casting. (Figs. II, III, VIII and XI), extends upwardly at its right side and overlaps the upper left-hand edgeof the right-hand portion of :the base, III (Fig. .VIII). The forward edge of the slice-receiving platter I 9 is curved and fits into a'cove I42 (Fig. X) blending with the contour ofthe base III. The front and left edges of the slice-receiving platter I5 are turned 'overand carried downwardly (Fig. II) thus forming ascen-v tinuous line with the bottom edge of the base It; The rear side of the slice-receiving platter is shaped and turned upwardly blending-into the contour of the lower edge of the deflector plate I 3 (Figs. II and III). y

'The slice-receiving platter is held in place on the base II] by the engagement of a pair of drilled ears I43 (Figs. III and XI), which extend downwardly from the undersurface of the slice-receiving platter, with two pins I44 which are riveted to the downwardly turned ends of a c shaped bracket I45 which is screwed to a portion of the main base IB located beneath the slice-receiving platter I9. The platter I9 is held on the pins I44 by the engagement of a bolthead I 36, which projects upwardly from the frame II), with a socket- I41 located in the undersurface of the platter I 9; As can be seen in Figs. VIII-and XE particularly, that portion of the frame which is located beneath the slice-receiving platter I9 is cut off at an angle beneath the platter. This eliminates useless weight in the base,and does not detract'from' the appearance of the machine because of the turned-over edges of the slice- Deflector plate The deflector plate I8-is mounted on the forward side of the motor and drive housing I I above the rear edge of the slice-receiving platter I9. The deflector plate is curved and formed at its right side, i. e., that portion located adjacent the rear of .the circular knife I3, to deflect slices of commodity which are, severed by the knife I3 so that they will fall on the slice-receiving platter I9, or so that an operator easily can catch them as theyaresevered by the knife. The contour of theupper and left edges of the deflector plate is blended into that of the motor and drive housing, II, The deflector plate is held in place by means of two buttons I48 (Figs. VIII and IX) which extend downwardly from a pair of horizontallugs I49 which are formed on the concealed side of the deflector plate and which, when the deflector plate is in position, extend into the-interior of the motor and drive housing-II through two holes I50 therein; The-'buttons148 aeoarsio are engaged ina pair of L shape'd'keyhole slots I5I cut in a right angle bracket I52 which is bolted to the interior wall of the housing I I. The slots I5I are cut in both the vertical and, the horizontal pieces of the bracket I52, and thus the. buttons I48 may be moved horizontally through the portions of the slots I5I in the vertical section of the bracket I52 and engaged beneath the horizontal section of the bracket I52, the flat portions of the buttons being too large to pass through the curved sections of the slots I5I, which portions of the slots fit the shanks of the buttons. Thus when the buttons are inserted to the limit of the slots I5I, the deflector plate is supported and correctly. positioned-vertically, by the lugs I49 resting on the horizontal portion of the bracket I52; back of the knife, by the shanks of the buttons I48 being inserted to the limit of the slots I5I; and against the wall of the motor and drive housing II, by the drawing in of the deflector plate as the buttons are forced to the limit of the slots I5I. The deflector plate I8 may be easily removed by gripping a fingerhold I53 (Figs. II and VIII) which is formed at the upper left-hand side of the deflector plate, and sliding the plate to the left. The lower right corner of the deflector plate is shaped to conform substantially to the shape of the foot guard 49 (Fig. IV), and cooperates therewith to guard that portion of the knife which is located above the open end 48 of the trough 46.

Commodity holder" Commodities to be sliced on the device are carried by the commodity tray I6, the upper surface of which is substantially trough-shaped, having a long, slightly tilted surface I54 (Figs. VIII, XII and XVII) which is inclined upwardly from front to back and a short sharply inclined surface I55 located at the front of the tray substantially at right angles to the surface I54. These two surfaces I54 and I55 are both at right angles to the face of the gauge plate I4 and the plane of the circular knife I3. The commodity tray is supported on a commodity tray spider I56.

A bracket I51 (Fig. XV) is bolted to two bosses I58 which extend downwardly from the underside of the surface I54. Two bolts I59 pass through the ends of the bracket I51 and through a pair of horizontally-bored ears I66 on the spider I56. The commodity tray I6 is swivelably mounted, and can be swung upwardly and to the right (Figs. VIII and E1), pivoting on the bolts I59 into the position illustrated in Fig.

XV. The commodity tray is normally held down in the position shown in Fig. VIII by means of a plunger I6I (Figs. XII and XV) which is horizontally slidable in a pair of ears I62 extending upwardly from the spider I56 and urged to the left by a spring I63 compressed between the ear I62 and a cotter-held washer I64.

A finger grip I65 is riveted on the right end of the plunger I6I (Fig. XV) in a position easily accessible from beneath the commodity tray I6, for withdrawing the plunger from the hole through the left vertical wall of the commodity tray in which the plunger is shown engaged in Fig. XII.

The commodity tray may be locked in it's swungup position by means of a slotted link I65a (Fig. XV), which is pivotally mounted on the innermost end of a bolt I66, and the slot of which is engaged on a bolt I61 horizontally threaded through an ear I68 extending upwardly from the spider I56.

The commodity tray is swivelably mounted in this manner t permit its easy cleaning and to give access to other mechanism located beneath it; In order to prevent slices of commodity from being unevenly cut because the main piece of commoditv sags over that end of the commodity tray adjacent the gauge plate I4, the commodity tray is located with its end very close to the plane of the gauge plate (when set at zero) and the circular knife I3. grease and commodity do become distributed over the surface of the gauge plate, below the surface I54 of the commodity tray, and on the end of the commodity tray itself. When the commodity tray is swung upwardly, it is simple to reach these two surfaces for cleaning.

Because it is necessary to have the edge of the commodity tray closely adjacent the plane of the knife I3, provision must be made for the edge of the commodity tray to clear the rear part of the knife guard I2 so that the entire commodity tray can be moved past the exposed cutting portion of the knife to sever completely a slice of commodity. However, since the knife guard I2 covers the knife I3, it projects forward of the plane of the knife edge (as can be seen in Figs. I and XII). Therefore that section of the knife guard I2 which is in the area where the commodity tray passes is cut away (Fig. I). Thus the edge of the commoditytray can be very close indeed to the plane of the knife edge past which it moves, and is not interfered with by the main body of the knife guard I2 (since this portion of the knife guard is located in the dished face of the knife I3), or by the raised annular portion of the guard since the commodity tray passes through a cutout section I69 of the rear part of the knife guard. Cutting away this section of the knife guard however exposes the edge of the knife and would be extremely hazardous to the operator. There is provided therefore an arcuate edge guard I10, which has its forward face in the plane of the edge of the knife, and which conforms substantially to the shape of the edge of the knife. This edge guard is adjustably mounted by means of two bolts passing horizontally therethrough and engaged in two slots horizontally cut in a turned-over section of the knife guard I2. When the knife is sharpened, and thus reduced in diameter, the edge guard I10 can be moved toward the center of the knife to keep its edge closely adjacent to the edge of the knife I3.

In order to hold the commodity against the surface of the gauge plate I4, and to feed it toward th auge plate as each successive slice is severed, there is provided a commodity clamp I14 (Figs. I, VIII and XVII). The commodity clamp I14 comprises a formed plate I15 which has its lower, front and rear edges turned over. A series of commodity engaging points I16 are riveted into the vertical commodity engagin face of the plate I15 and a barbed channel member I11 is riveted to the underside of the horizontally-turned bottom edge of the plate I15. The front edge of the plate I15 carries a series of pointed projections I18 (Fig. XVII) which serve to pierce and hold in place small commodities which may be placed in the corner between the surfaces I54 and I55 of the commodity tray. The upper rear corner ofthe plate I15 has an inwardly curved section I19, which is adapted to hold small commodities in the lower front corner of the commodity tray without piercing them.

However, small bits of.

The plate is swivelably mounted on an arm tall by means of a horizontal stub shaft which passes through a hole in the center of the plate I and is force-fitted into a bore in the end boss of the arm I80. The plate I15 may thus be rotated around the stub shaft to place the projections I'I8 in commodity-holding position, or to locate the cut-away section. I19 in that position. When the curved section I19 is used to hold a small commodity in the corner of the commodity tray, the operator feeds the piece toward the gauge plate with his fingers.

The arm I80 (see Fig. XVII) is hinged in the upright end of anarm I82 of a clamp bracket I83 by means of a horizontal pin- I54. I82 projects from beneath the commodity tray IE and extends upwardly at the rear of the commodity tray. The pin I84 passes through a pair of opposed cylindrical face cams I85 and a cylindrical bearing member; all three of which are journaled in a bore in the upper end of the arm I82. A coiled spring surrounds the pin I84 and exerts tension between one face of the cylindrical bearing member and the rear of the face cam which is pinned to the arm I82. The face of the cylindrical bearing member, opposite the spring, is engaged with the inner surface of one arm. of the bifurcated. rear end of the clamp arm I80. The face cam I85 is keyed to the other bifurcation of the arm I80. A shoulder is cut in the inner surface of the arm and is engageable with a stop cut on the side. of the upper end of the arm I82. Thus when the commodity clamp I14 is swung upwardly, either to permit the plate I15 to be swiveled or to move the commodity clamp out of the way, the two face cams IE5 are rotated relative to each other and the commodity clamp arm and plate are cammed to the right in Fig. VIII. The commodity clamp may be raised until the shoulder engages the stop, against which it rests, holding the commodity clamp in its elevated position.

This cam has been provided (as can be seen in Fig. VIII) to prevent the commodity clam from being swung upwardly when it is at the limit of its travel to the left toward the face of the gauge plate, since if it were then swung upwardly the commodity engaging. points- I'lB would strike against the annular knife-covering portionof the knife guard I2. The commodity clam is, of course, movable into this extreme left position in order to insure holding and feeding of the commodity until the salt slice has been severed therefrom.

Th commodity clamp is movable transversely of the commodity tray I6 toward and from the face of the gauge plate I4, being supported by the commodity tray bracket I83, which rides on three channel rails I93, I94 and I95 (Fig. XV) mounted on the fiat top of the commodity tray spider I56. A pair of horizontally journaled' rollers I35, which are mounted on the bracket I33, ride in the channel rail I93; a pair of vertically journale'd rollers I81 ride in the channel rail I94, and a single roller I98 rides in the channel rail I 95. The two rollers I96 guide the commodity clamp bracket I83 and prevent; it. from turning on a sub stantially horizontal ax s at right angles to its direction of movement. The two rollers I91 pre vent thev commodity clamp bracket from being swiveled on a substantially vertical axis and the roller I98 prevents the commodity tray from turning on a horizontal axis parallel to its line of movement.

The commodity clamp bracket I83 is urged to the left, i. e., toward the gauge plate, by a spring I99 which is coiled around a horizontal rod Elli) mounted in a pair of ears ZIII parallel to the rails I93, I94 and I95. The right end of the spring. engages the right car 20 I, and the left end of the spring is engaged in a. collar 2.02, which is secured to the left side of the bracket I83 (Fig. XVI) and through which the rod 200 passes.

When .the commodity clamp is moved to the right (Figs. VIII and XV) and a large piece of commodity placed in the commodity tray I8, betweenthe face of the plate I15 and the gauge plate, the spring I99, which has been compressed by the movement of the commodity clamp bracket to the right, exerts, pressure against the commodity clamp bracket and thus against the. commodity clamp to hold the commodity, snugly against the surface of the gauge plate. The spring feeds the commodity forward as it is sliced until an ear 203 on the commodity clamp bracket I83 engagesa stop bolt 204 adjustably threaded in an ear 205 on the commodity tray spider I56, which bolt is so positioned as. to stop the movement of the commodity clamp toward the gauge plate just prior to the engagement of the points I'IG with the gauge plate.

In case the commodity being sliced is a piece of small cross section, for example bologna or other luncheon meat, it may be desirable to feed it across the commodity tray by hand. The operator then places it in v the lower forward corner of the commodity tray and moves it to the left with his fingers. There are provided a hand stop 206 and a thumb guard 201 (Figs. VIII and XVII) to prevent injury to the operators fingers and thumb. The handle I I is mounted on the front of the commodity tray I6 by means of two screwsrone of them being the screw I 66 on which is pivotally mounted the slotted link Ia.

The entire commodity tray and commodity clamp are supported by the commodity. tray spider I56, which is in turn bolted to the top of a vertical. hollow carriage arm 208 (Figs. VIII, XII and XVII) by means of two bolts 209 which extend upwardly into the commodity tray spider I56. A downwardly extending plate 2III, which is a portion of. the commodity tray spider I56, forms one side of the hollow carriage arm 208 and serves to correctly position the commodity spider I56 thereon. The carriage arm 20B is an. upwardly turned portion of a commodity tray carriage 2| I (see. also Fig. XIII) which projects through a longitudinal slot 2 I 2. in the right side of the base I0. (Fig.1). The carriage 2| I is supported by a peripherally-grooved. roller 2I3 which rides on a horizontal rail. 2I4 forming the lower edge of the. slot 2I2 and having its outside flush with the side of the base III-.. The roller 2I3 (as can be seen. in Fig. VIII) is located substantially on the center line of the commodity tray I6 and the handle I1 and thus furnishes a wheelbarrow supportfor the. commodity tray I6. The carriage ZII is. guided. andsteadied by means of an integrainy-constructed. sleeve. 2I5 which slides on a rod. 2.! Iilocatedinl the interior of the base II] and parallel to the rail. ill. The central. location of the roller 21.3 with. respect to the weightv of the commodity tray and carriage. is extremely advantagecus,v because. the weight of the. trayand. commodity is supported primarily by the frictionefree roller rather than by the sliding sleeve 2I5' and thetray ishencev much easier to reciprocate.

In order properly to steady thecommodity tray carriage and the commodity tray and to place the principal portion of their weight on the centrally 11 located roller 2l3,'the rod 2|6 and rail. 2 must be spaced as far apart as possible. It is for this reason that the rail 2M is located flush with the side of the base I0, thereby securing maximum spacing between the rail 214 and the rod 2H5 without having the rail 2! located on the exterior of the base where it would be in the way and would collect dirt and grease, thereby causing friction on its surface and rendering the reciprocation of the commodity tray more. diflicult.

A double-ended bumper 2|! is mounted in the carriage 2H and comprises a plunger 2! which is slidable on a line parallel to the rail 2 and rod 2l6 in a bore through the body of the carriage 2| l. A cap 2| 9 having a rubber cushion 220 in its end is secured on each end of the plunger 218 and two cushioning springs 22l are located around the plunger 2 l8, one between each of the caps 2| 9 and th body of the carriage 2| I.

The rod 2l6, plunger 2l8 and roller 213 are all oiled by means of an oiling device comprising an oil tube 222, which extends through the hollow interior of the carriage arm 208 upwardly through the commodity tray spider I55 where its open upper end is easily accessible when the commodity tray I6 is swung up out of the way (Figs. XII and XV). The lower end of the tube is connected by means of an elbow 223 to a horizontal tube 224 which also serves as the axle for the roller 213 and leads to an oil sump 225 in the commodity tray carriage 2! I, The plunger 2H) and rod 2| 6 are oiled by means of wicks 226, which are held in place by a wick retainer 22'! attached to the carriage 2. The carriage 2 is held down on the rail 2l4 by means of a plate 228 secured to the carria e 2 by screws 229 which is engaged beneath the rail 2 l4.

The wheelbarrow support for the commodity tray and the wide spacing between the rail 2M and rod 2 I 6 result in extremely easy reciprocation of the commodity tray l6, facilitating the operation of the slicing machine. This easy operation is maintained, by the constant oiling resulting from the oiling device described.

A slicing machine constructed in accordance with the invention presents a smooth exterior surface unobstructed by screws, fittings or projections other than the sharpener controlling button 99 and a motor switch 230 (Figs. I and XII) which may be mounted in any easily accessible position. The operator can keep the exterior of the machine clean and sanitary since there are no dirt catching nooks, cracks or crannies. After a period of operation when it is desired thoroughly to clean the machine, in compliance with sanitary regulations and requirements, the commodity engaging portions of the machine are all easily accessible or removable. The commodity tray, as explained above, can be swung upwardly to expose the entire surface of the gauge plate. The gauge plate easily can be removed. The unitary knife guard [2 can be lifted from its position around the knife l3, and when so lifted exposes the entire edge ofthe blade including that portion thereof which extends downwardly into the fore and aft trough 46. Any particles of commodity or dirt can easily be removed from the trough 48 by being swept through the end opening 48 which leads out over the slice-receiving platter IS.

The operational advantages also are many. The rack and pinion drive for the gauge plate gives the operator a great mechanical advantage,

and permits close adjustment or rapid movement. The gauge plate being at all times located above the slice-receiving platter prevents any particles of commodity rubbed off by the gauge plate from falling anywhere on the machine except on the slice-receiving platter. The cutout knife guard, with its edge guard, permits the commodity tray to be of substantial size and yet permits the circular knife to be relatively small. since the commodity tray can be moved past the knife guard and thus entirely beyond the exposed forward cutting edge of the knife. The small size of the knife in turn permits the entire machine to be more compact and lighter than would otherwise be possible. The wheelbarrow support for the commodity tray eliminates the friction and torsion that bind the reciprocation of commodity trays mounted in other ways.

The embodiment of the invention that has been disclosed may be modified to meet various requirements.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a slicing machine having a rotatable circular knife, in combination, a commodity tray carriage reciprocable fore and aft past the edge of said knife, a commodity tray mounted on said carriage with one of its edges closely adjacent the plane of rotation of said knife, a commodity clamp bracket, means for mounting said bracket comprisin a plurality of parallel channels on said carriage extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said knife, and a plurality of rollers journaled on said bracket and engaged in said channels, the periphery of each roller being adjacent opposite sides of a channel whereby each roller may roll on either side of a channel without substantial displacement of the roller transverse to the channel, and a commodity clamp mounted on said bracket, the axes of some of said rollers bein transverse'to the axes of others of said rollers.

2. In a slicing machine having a rotatable circular knife and a base, in combination, a rail mounted in said base substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of said knife, with its outer side lying substantially in the plane of the outer side wall of said base, a slot in such wall of said base, said slot being bounded at the bottom by said rail, a carriage having a part extending exteriorly of said base through said slot and a commodity holder mounted on such part of said carriage, and a supporting roller journaled in said carriage substantially vertically below the center of gravity thereof, to roll on said rail.

3. In a slicing machine having a rotatable circular knife and a base, in combination, a pair of horizontally-spaced rails mounted in said base substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of said knife, a carriage mounted for reciprocal movement along said rails, means for supporting said carriage comprising a roller journaled in said carriage and rolling on one of said rails and a member on said carriage slidingly engaged with the second rail, a slot in the side wall of said base bounded on the bottom by the first rail, said carriage having a portion extending exteriorly of said base through said slot, and a 

